artiFacts

Most expensive Leica camera sold at auction for $1.9 million

At the 19th WestLicht camera auction held on May 28, extremely rare Leica of the 0-series from 1923 fetched a whopping €1,320,000 ($ 1,900,000) including premium, thereby setting a new record for the most expensive Leica camera sold at auction. The 1923 Leica 0-series camera carried a presale estimate of between 350,000 and 450,000, and the opening bid 200,000. The said camera is the 7th camera of the Leica 0-series, and only 25 were produced to test the market in 1923.

Moreover, its the only camera known with Germany engraving on the top plate. An anonymous private Asian collector placed the winning bid after 20 minutes of fierce bidding. The previous record for the most expensive Leica was with a MP2 that fetched 402,000 in December 2010.